Adjudicated Males' Modus Operandi Trajectories From Ages 15 to 30

Lila Kazemian, Universite de Montreal

Marc LeBlanc, University of Montreal

ABSTRACT

Studies that have explored the characteristics of the perpetration of the offense generally tend to focus on a specific type of crime. This study aims to establish the main types of modus operandi for some periods of the life course and to identify trajectories of modus operandi followed by delinquents. A sample of adjudicated males followed from adolescence thought youth is used in this paper. Five trajectories are identified. Although three of the five trajectories show an upward slope concerning the level of sophistication, most pathways illustrate considerable fluctuations; this observation reveals some disorganization in the modus operandi.